Rights advocates: Noynoy faces tough task vs human rights abuses

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is faced with the “daunting” task of addressing human rights issues left by the previous administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, human rights advocates said on Thursday.

“The past administration didn’t leave a good record as far as human rights is concerned, so the new administration is facing a daunting set of challenges on the issue on human rights,” said Ibarra Gutierrez III, director of the University of the Philippines Institute of Human Rights.

Speaking at a forum in Quezon City, Gutierrez said some of these challenges include extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances and even the “less visible” forms of human rights violations, such as the neglect of the rights of persons with disabilities.